It was a new school year and a
new school for the sixth graders at Hemlock Mills Middle School. Amy
Ashwood and Bobby Aroni would soon be there with all the other kids who
had graduated from Hemlock Mills Elementary School. They joined the
graduates of Tiger Elementary and Fallon Elementary: the brand new
freshman class. Amy was sitting
on the school bus with Bobby as they rode steadily toward the middle
school. “I’m going to get off to a fresh start,
Bobby,” she declared. “No more being nasty to
everyone. It’s going to be the new nice
me.”Bobby had his
doubts that this was possible, but he wanted to encourage his friend.
“It’s worth a try, Amy,” he said.“I’ve
also decided,” she went on, “to run for president
of the freshman class. I read all about it in the papers we got this
summer. I’m going to start my political career.”“That
means,” Bobby cautioned, “that you really do have
to be nice to people. You’ll have to think of friendly things
to say to everyone. Amy, you haven’t had much practice at
that.”“You
watch. It’s the new improved, soon to be president,
me!” Amy stated.

Amy walked through
the wide entrance to the main office. An elderly lady behind the high
counter smiled and asked, “May I help you?”“I’d
like to register as a candidate in the student elections,
please,” Amy said.“You’ll
have to talk to the vice principal,” the lady replied.
“It’s that door to your right.”The door was
opened, so Amy walked right in. A man behind a large desk was examining
a piece of paper. He signed it, and handed it to a woman who was
standing to his left. He looked up to greet his visitor.“Mr.
Grumbell!” Amy almost shouted.Mr. Grumbell had
been the vice principal at Hemlock Mills Elementary School. “Amy
Ashwood, surprised to see me here? Even I got promoted to the middle
school.”“Actually,
I thought you were old enough to retire,” Amy replied.Mr. Grumbell,who
was forty-three years old, sometimes wished that he was old enough to
retire. Most of the time, however, he did not like to be referred to as
old. He looked at Amy intently. “You’re not a nice
little girl,” he said.Amy was accustomed
to Mr. Grumbell’s gruff manner and wasn’t offended.
“That is true,” she agreed.
“That’s because I’m not a little
girl.”“Hmmm,
and what brings you to my office, young woman?”“I’d
like to be a candidate for president in the freshman class
election.”The woman, who Amy
guessed was a secretary, reached for a sheet of paper on the desk and
handed it to Mr. Grumbell. “Thank you, Mrs.
Franklin,” he said.He turned the
document around and placed it on the desk in front of Amy.
“This is a petition, Amy. You’ll need at least
twenty signatures from other freshmen. By signing it, they support your
desire to be a candidate.”Amy picked up the
paper. She smiled at Mr. Grumbell and said, “I’m
glad you’re working here,” and walked out of the
office.“She
never even thanked you!” Mrs. Franklin complained.Mr. Grumbell
almost smiled, which for him was a smile. “Yes, she
did,” he said.

1. Why were Amy and Bobby going to a new
school?

2. Amy Ashwood was determined to make a big
change in her personality. What kind of change was she planning to make?

3. What was her motivation (reason
for doing something)?

4. How did Amy know Mr. Grumbell?

5. Why did Mr. Grumbell feel that
Amy had thanked him for the petition?

6.
What will Amy have to do in order to become class president? Pretend
that you’re Amy’s campaign manager and tell her
what to do.